Creating Lively Passover Seders: A Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts & Activities [Paperback]

David Arnow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2004

A guide to help you invigorate your Seder, create lively discussions, and make personal connections with the Exodus story today.

For many people, the act of simply reading the Haggadah no longer fulfills the Passover Seder’s purpose: to help you feel as if you personally had gone out of Egypt. Too often, the ritual meal has become predictable, boring, and uninspiring.

Creating Lively Passover Seders is an innovative, interactive guide to help encourage fresh perspectives and lively dialogue. This intriguing Haggadah companion offers thematic discussion topics, text study ideas, activities, and readings that come alive in the traditional group setting of the Passover Seder. Each activity and discussion idea aims to:

• Deepen your understanding of the Haggadah

• Provide new opportunities for engaging the themes of the Passover festival, including interactive readings and bibliodrama

• Develop familiarity with the Exodus story, as well as the life and times of the people who shaped the development of the Haggadah

Reliving the Exodus is not about remembering an event long ago, but about participating in a conversation that provides hope and strength for the struggle to make tomorrow a brighter day. With this complete resource, you can create more meaningful encounters with Jewish values, traditions, and texts that lead well beyond the Seder itself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"The Mishnah implies that no two Seders should be the same," claims Arnow, who has created a new Haggadah pamphlet each year to distribute among friends and family. In this innovative book, he urges readers to make the ritual their own, using Passover as an opportunity to better understand and internalize Judaism, freedom and faith. Each chapter begins with a short selection from the Haggadah, followed by Arnow's interpretations, ideas for discussion of relevant topics (e.g. miracles, slavery, exile) and suggestions for hands-on activities. Some adults may find these activities cheesy, but Passover has always been a holiday in which children are actively involved, and they will love "marching" from Egypt to the Red Sea, or stepping outdoors mid-meal to gaze at the full moon.
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Review

“David Arnow has written the afikomen of Seder books: An ingenious synthesis of history, legend, law, and spirituality (un)leavened with practically helpful, politically important, and psychologically sophisticated suggestions on how to transform your meal into a true celebration of asking and learning. This book belongs next to every seder plate.” —Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Emanu-El Scholar, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco; author, The Way Into Jewish Mystical Tradition “This richly informative and inspiring book is a treasure for all those seeking to create a Seder that is alive with questions that matter.” —Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, coeditor, The Women’s Passover Companion “A wonderful collection of readings, stories, and activities to enhance your Passover celebration.” —Dr. Ron Wolfson, vice president, University of Judaism; author, Passover: The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; ZZZ edition (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580231845
• ISBN-13: 978-1580231848
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #893,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Haggadah

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars more than matzah balls, March 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Creating Lively Passover Seders: A Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts & Activities (Paperback)

Passover is the ultimate home holiday. But Passover is so much richer than family, friends and food--it is an opportunity to delve into Jewish heritage and find its relevance to so many of today's pressing concerns.David Arnow gives Seder leaders the tools to create spectacular Seders for years to come. Just as the meal takes preparation, the Seder takes preparation beyond using the Haggadah. For all ages, for all levels of knowledge of Jewish history and tradition, David Arnow provides dynamic materials, ideas, questions and methods that are relevant to the present and respectful of the past. No matter how many years you have been conducting Seders, this book will amaze you and enrich your experience.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book -- I can't wait for the seders this year!, March 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Creating Lively Passover Seders: A Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts & Activities (Paperback)

For years, I have promised to make my seder more interesting and provocative, but I never knew where to begin and didn't have the time to figure it out. Lucky for me, this book came along and did most of the work for me! This book is like a great cookbook: there's no reason to go from front to back -- just flip through and choose an interesting chapter, and you have the recipe for a thought-provoking, exciting seder.

There's enough in one chapter for an entire seder, and it has sections appropriate for all different groups: kids and adults, those who know the Passover story and those who don't, and people with many different interests--from history to current events to women's studies, and everything in between.

Buy this book -- you'll never have boring seders again!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly what the title would lead you to believe.., April 10, 2009

By 

Jessica L. Epstein "Cantor" (Glen Ridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creating Lively Passover Seders: A Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts & Activities (Paperback)

These texts/discussions might be lively for a seder full of Jewish scholars or rabbis. This is not full of fun, creative seder ideas! It is interesting, but not for most lay people..
As a cantor, I was going to use this book as part of a class on making seders more lively and engaging. Needless to say, I didn't use it or recommend it to anyone! It is pretty dry and boring, actaully.
This book primarily deals with stimulating intellectual discussions based upon certain parts of the Haggadah. However interesting the topics and discussions inside this book may be to the author, they are really NOT for most families who want something a litle more creative and vibrant. This is not for anyone who interested in getting young children involved with craft activities, songs, costumes, stories, etc. You can get a million better ideas for your seder online for free. Pass this book by, unless you have a family that is extremely erudite and loves to deliberate.